A Solemn ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PUBLIC SINS, And breaches of the COVENANT, AND A Solemn ENGAGEMENT to all the DUTIES contained therein, namely those, which do in a more special way relate unto the Dangers of these Times.  
WITH Two Acts of the COMMISSION of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the sixth of October, for renewing the Solemn League and COVENANT.  
And debarring of persons accessary to the late unlawful Engagement, from renewing the COVENANT, receiving the Communion, and from exercise of Ecclesiastic Office, With their advice to Presbyteries for celebrating the Communion.  
Together also with, An Act of the Committee of Estates of the fourteenth of October for renewing the League and COVENANT  
EDINBURGH, Printed by Evan Tyler, and Reprinted at London for Robert Bostock at the Sign of the King's Head in Paul's Churchyard, Novem. 22. 1648.   

A Solemn Acknowledgement of public Sins and Breaches of the Covenant; And a solemn Engagement to all the Duties contained therein, namely those which do in a more special way relate unto the dangers of these times.  
WE Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers of the Gospel, and Commons of all sorts within this Kingdom, by the good hand of GOD upon us, taking into serious consideration the many sad afflictions and deep distresses wherewith we have been exercised for a long time past, and that the Land after it hath been sore wasted with the Sword and the Pestilence, and threatened with Famine, and that shame and contempt hath been poured out from the Lord against many thousands of our Nation who did in a sinful way make War upon the Kingdom of England, contrary to the Testimony of his Servants and desires of his People, and that the remnants of that Army returning to this Land have spoiled and oppressed many of our Brethren, and that the Malignant party is still numerous, and retaining their former principles wait for an opportunity to raise a new and dangerous War, not only unto the rending of the bowels of this kingdom, but unto the dividing us from England, and overturning of the work of God in all the three Kingdoms: And considering also that a cloud of calamities doth still hang over our heads and threaten us with sad things to come, We cannot but look upon these things as from the Lord who is righteous in all his ways feeding us with the bread of tears, and making us to drink the waters of affliction until we be taught to know how evil and bitter a thing it is to departed away from him, by breaking the Oath and Covenant which we have made with him, and that we may be humbled before him by confessing our sin, and forsaking the evil of our way.  
Therefore being pressed with so great necessities and straits, and warranted by the word of God, and having the example of God's people of old, who in the time of their troubles, and when they were to seek delivery and aright way for themselves, that the Lord might be with them to prosper them, did humble themselves before him, and make a free and particular confession of the sins of their Princes their Rulers, their Captains, their Priests and their people, & did engage themselves to do no more so, but to reform their ways and be steadfast in his Covenant; And remembering the practice of our predecessors in the year 1596. Wherein the General Assembly, and all the Kirk Judicatories, with the concurrence of many of the Nobility, Gentry and Burgesses, did with many tears acknowledge before God the breach of the Nationall Covenant, and engaged themselves to a Reformation, even as our predecessors and theirs had before done in the General Assembly and convention of Estates in the year 1567. And perceiving that this duty, when gone about out of conscience and in sincerity, hath always been attended with a reviving out of troubles, and with a blessiing and success from Heaven; We do humbly and sincerely as in his sight, who is the searcher of hearts, acknowledge the many sins and great transgressions of the Land; We have done wickedly, our Kings, our Princes, our Nobles, our Judges, our Officers, our Teachers, and our People: Albeit the lord hath long and clearly spoken unto us we have not harkened to his voice, Albeit he hath followed us with tender mercies we have not been alured to wait upon him and walk in his way; And though he hath stricken us, yet we have not grieved: Nay though he hath consumed us, we have refused to receive correction; We have not remembered to render unto the Lord according to his goodness and according to our own vows and promises, but have gone away backward by a continued course of backsliding, and have broken all the Articles of that solemn League and Covenant which we swore before God, Angels and men.  
Albeit there be in the land many of all ranks, who be for a Testimony unto the Truth, and for a name of joy and praise unto the Lord by living godly, studying to keep their garments pure, and being steadfast in the Covenant and cause of God; Yet we have reason to acknowledge that most of us have not endeavoured with that reality sincerity and constancy, that did become us, to preserve the work of Reformation in the Kirk of Scotland; Many have satisfied themselves with the purity of the Ordinances neglecting the power thereof; yea, some have turned aside to crooked ways destructive to both. The profane, lose and insolent carriage of many in our Armies, who went to the Assistance of our BRETHREN in ENGLAND, And the tamperings and unstraight dealing of some of our Commissioners and others of our Nation in London, the Isle of Wight and other places of the Kingdom have proved great lets to the work of Reformation, and settling of Kirk-Government there, whereby Error and Schism in that Land have been increased, and Sectaries hardened in their way. We have been so far from endeavouring the extirpation of profaneness, and what is contrary to the power of godliness, that profanity hath been much winked at and Profane persons much countenanced and many times employed until iniquity and ungodliness hath gone over the face of the land as a flood; Nay, sufficient care hath not been had to separate betwixt the precious and the vile, by debarring from the Sacrament all ignorant and scandalous persons according to the Ordinances of this Kirk.  
Neither have the Privileges of the Parliaments and Liberties of the Subject been duly tendered, But some amongst ourselves have laboured to put into the hands of our King an arbitrary & unlimited power destructive to both, And many of us have been accessary of late to those means & ways whereby the freedom and privileges of Parliaments have been encroached upon and the Subjects oppressed in their Consciences, persons and Estates: Neither hath it been our care to avoid these things which might harden the King in his evil way; But upon the contrary he hath not only been permitted, but many of us have been instrumental to make him exercise his power in many things tendering to the prejudice of Religion and of the Covenant, and of the Peace and safety of these Kingdoms; Which is so fare from the right way of preserving his Majesty's Person and Authority, that if cannot but provoke the Lord against him unto the hazard of both, nay under a pretence of relieving and doing for the King whilst he refuses to do what was necessary for the house of God, some have ranversed and violated most of all the Articles of the Covenant.  
Our own consciences within, and Gods judgements upon us without do convince us of the manifold wilful renewed breaches of that Article which concerneth the discovery and punishment of Malignants, whose crimes have not only been connived at but dispensed with and pardoned, and themselves received into intimate fellowship with ourselves, and entrusted with our Counsels, admitted unto our Parliaments, and put in places of power and Authority for managing the public affairs of the Kingdom, Whereby in God's justice they got at last into their hands the whole power and strength of the Kingdom, both in judicatories and Armies, And did employ the same unto the enacting and prosecuting an unlawful engagement in war against the Kingdom of England, Notwithstanding of the dissent of many considerate members of Parliament, who have given constant proof of their integrity in the cause from the beginning, of many faithful testimonies and free warnings of the servants of God, of the Supplycations of many Synods, Presbyteries and Shires, and of the Declarations of the General Assembly and their Commissioners to the contrary: Which engagement as it hath been the cause of much sin, so also of much misery and calamity unto this Land, and holds forth to us the griveousnesse of our sin of complying with Malignants in the greatness of our judgement, that we may be taught never to split again upon the same rock, upon which the Lord hath set so remarkable a Beacon. And after all that is come to pass unto us because of this our trespass, and after that grace hath been showed unto us from the Lord our God by breaking these men's yoke from of our necks and putting us again into a capacity to act for the good of Religion, our own safety and the Peace and safety of this Kingdom, should we again break his Commandment and Covenant by joining once more with the people of these abominations, and taking into our bosom those Serpents which had formerly stung us almost unto death: This as it should argue great madness and folly upon our part, So no doubt, if it be not avoided, will provoke the Lord against us to consume us until there be no remnant nor escaping in the Land.  
And albeit the Peace and Union betwixt the Kingdoms be a great blessing of God unto both and a Bond which we are obliged to preserve unviolated, and to endeavour that justice may be done upon the opposers thereof; Yet some in this Land who have come under the bond of this Covenant have made it their great study how to dissolve this union, and few or no endeavours have been used by any of us for punishing of such.  
We have suffered many of our Brethren in several parts of the Land to be oppressed of the common enemy without compassion or relief; There hath been great murmuring and repining, because of expense of means and pains in doing of our duty; Many by persuasion or terror, have suffered themselves to be divided and withdrawn to make defection to the contrary part, Many have turned off to a detestable indifferency and neutrality in this cause, which so much concerneth the glory of God and the good of these Kingdoms, Nay many have made it their study to walk so, as they might comply with all times and all the revolutions thereof. It hath not been our care to countenance, encourage, intrust and employ such only, as from their hearts did affect and mind God's work; But the hearts of such many times have been discouraged, and their hands weakened, their sufferings neglected, and themselves slighted, and many who were once open enemies and always secret underminers countenanced and employed, Nay even those who had been looked upon as Incendiaries, and upon whom the Lord had set marks of desperare Malignancy, falsehood, and deceit, were brought in, as fit to manage public affairs; Many have been the lets and Impediments that have been cast in the way to retard and obstruct the Lords work, and some have keeped secret, what of themselves they were not able to suppress and overcome.  
Besides these and many other breaches of the Articles of the Covenant in the matter thereof, which it concerneth every one of us to search out and acknowledge before the Lord, as we would wish his wrath to be turned away from us; So have many of us failed exceedingly in the manner of our following and pursuing the duties contained therein, not only seeking great things for ourselves, and mixing of private interests and ends concerning ourselves and friends and followers, with those things which concern the public good, but many times preferring such to the Honour of God and good of his cause, and retarding Gods work until we might carry along with us our own interests and designs. It hath been our way to trust in the means and to rely upon the arm of flesh for success, Albeit the Lord hath many times made us meet with disapointment therein, and stained the pride of all our Glory, by blasting every carnal confidence unto us: We have followed for the most part the counsels of flesh and blood, and walked more by the rules of policy than Piety, and have harkened more unto men then unto God.  
Albeit we made solemn public profession before the World of our unfeigned desires to be humbled before the Lord for our own sins, and the sins of these Kingdoms, especially for our undervaluing of the inestimable benefit of the Gospel, and that we have not laboured for the power thereof, and received Christ into our hearts, and walked worthy of him in our lives, and of our true and unfeigned purpose, desire and endeavour for ourselves, and all others under our power and charge both in public and private, in all duties which we own to God and man, to amend our lives, and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation, that the Lord might turn away his wrath and heavy indignation, and establish these Kirks and Kingdoms in truth and peace; Yet we have refused to be reform, and have walked proudly and obstinately against the Lord, not valuing his Gospel, nor submitting ourselves unto the obedience thereof, not seeking after Christ, nor studying to honour him in the excellency of his person, nor employ him in the virtue of his offices, not making conscience of public Ordinances nor private nor secret duties, nor studying to edify one another in love. The ignorance of God and of his Son prevails exceedingly in the Land; The greatest part of Masters of families amongst Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses and Commons, neglect to seek God in their families, and to endeavour the Reformation thereof; And albeit it hath been much pressed, yet few of our Nobles and great ones ever to this day could be persuaded to perform family duties themselves and in their own persons; which makes so necessary and useful a duty to be misregarded by others of inferior rank; Nay many of the Nobility, Gentry, and Burrows who should have been examples of godliness and sober walking unto others, have been ringleaders of excess and rioting. Albeit we be the Lords people engaged to him in a solemn way, yet to this day we have not made it our study that judicatories and Armies should consist of, and places of power and trust be filled with men of a blameless and Christian conversation, and of known integrity and approven fidelity, affection and zeal unto the cause of God, but not only those who have been neutral and indifferent, but disaffected and Malignant, and others who have been profane and scandalous have been entrusted; By which it hath come to pass that judicatories have been the seats of injustice and iniquity, and many in our Armies by their miscarriages have become our plague unto the great prejudice of the cause of God, the great scandal of the Gospel, and the great increase of looseness and profanity throughout all the Land. It were impossible to reckon up all the abominations that are in the Land, but the Blaspheming of the name of God, swearing by the Creatures, profanation of the Lords Day, uncleanness, drunkenness, excess and rioting, vanity of apparel, lying and deceit, railing and cursing, arbitrary and uncontrolled oppression, and grinding of the faces of the poor by Landlords and others in place and power are become ordinary and common sins; And besides all these things there be many other transgressions, whereof the Land wherein we live are guilty: All which we desire to acknowledge and to be humbled for, that the world may bear witness with us, that Righteousness belongeth unto God, and shame and confusion of face unto us as appears this day.  
And because it is needful for these who find mercy, not only to confess but also to forsake their sin, Therefore that the reality and sincerity of our repentance may appear, We do resolve and solemnly engage ourselves before the Lord carefully to avoid for the time to come all these offences, whereof we have now made solemn public acknowledgement, and all the snares and tentations which tend thereunto: And to testify the integrity of our resolution herein, and that we may be the better enabled in the power of the Lords strength to perform the same, We do again renew our Solemn League and Covenant, Promising hereafter to make conscience of all the duties whereunto we are obliged in all the heads and Articles there of, particularly of these which follow.  
1. Because Religion is of all things the most excellent and precious, The advancing and promoving the power thereof against all ungodliness and profanity, The securing and preserving the purity thereof against all error, heresy, and schism, and namely, Independency, Anabaptism, Antinomianism, Arminianism, Socinianism, Familism, Libertinism, Scepticism, and Erastianism, and the carrying on the work of uniformity shall be studied and endeavoured by us before all worldly interests, whether concerning the King or ourselves, or any other whatsoever.  
2. Because many have of late laboured to supplant the liberties of the Kirk, we shall maintain and defend the Kirk of Scotland, in all her liberties and privileges, against all who shall oppose or undermine the same, or encroach thereupon under any pretext whatsoever.  
3. We shall vindicate and maintain the liberties of the Subjects in all these things which concern their consciences, persons and Estates.  
4. We shall carefully maintain and defend the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, and avoid every thing that may weaken the same, or involve us in any measure of accession unto the guilt of those who have invaded the Kingdom of England.  
5. As we have been always Loyal to our King, so we shall still endeavour to give unto God that which is Gods, and to Cesar the things which are Caesar's,  
6. We shall be so fare from conniving at, complying with, or countenancing of Malignancy, injustice, iniquity, profanity and impiety, that we shall not only avoid, and discountenance those things, and cherish and encourage these persons who are zealous for the Cause of God, and walk according to the Gospel; But also shall take a more effectual course then heretofore in our respective Places and Callings, for punishing and suppressing these evils, and faithfully endeavour that the best and fittest remedies may be applied for taking away the causes thereof, and advancing the knowledge of God, and Holiness and Righteousness in the Land. And therefore in the last place, as we shall earnestly pray unto God that he would give us able men fearing God, men of truth and hating covetousness to judge and bear charge among his people, so we shall according to our Places and Callings Endeavour that Judicatories and all places of power and trust both in Kirk and State may consist of, and be filled with such men as are of known good affection to the cause of God, and of a blameless and Christian conversation.  
And because there be many, who heretofore have not made conscience of the oath of God, but some through fear, others by persuasion and upon base ends and humane interests have entered thereunto, who have afterwards discovered themselves to have dealt deceitfully with the Lord in swearing falsely by his name, Therefore we who do now renew our Covenant in reference to these duties and all other duties contained therein, Do in the sight of him who is the searcher of hearts solemnly Profess that it is not upon any politic advantage or private interest or by-end, or because of any terror or persuasion from men, or hypocritically and deceitfully, that we do again take upon us the oath of God, But honestly and sincerely and from the sense of our duty, And that therefore denying ourselves and our own things, and laying aside all self interest and ends, We shall above all things seek the honour of God, the good of his Cause, and the wealth of his people, and that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon carnal confidences, we shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of his word, and hearken to the voice of his servants: In all which professing our own weakness We do earnestly pray to God who is the father of mercies, through his Son Jesus Christ, to be merciful unto us, and to enable as by the power of his might, that we may do our duty unto the praise of his Grace in the Churches. Amen.   

Edinburgh, 6. Octob. 1648. post meridiem. Act for renewing of the Solemn League and Covenant.  
THe Commission of the General Assembly considering that a great part of this Land have involved themselves in many and gross breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, And that the hands of many are grown slack in following and pursuing the duties contained therein, And that many who not being come to sufficient age, when it was first sworn and subscribed, have not hithertills been received into the same, Do upon these and other grave and important considerations, Appoint and Ordain the Solemn League and Covenant to be renewed throughout all the Congregations of this Kingdom; And because it is a duty of great weight and consequence, Ministers after the sight hereof would be careful to take pains in their Doctrine, and otherwise, that their people may be made sensible of these things wherein they have broken the Covenant, and be prepared for the renewing thereof with suitable affections and dispositions: And that these things may be the better performed, we have thought it necessary to condescend upon a solemn acknowledgement of public sins and breaches of the Covenant, and a solemn Engagement to all the duties contained therein, Namely, those which do in a more special way relate unto the dangers of these times: And this solemn acknowledgement and Engagement sent herewith shall be made use of, And the League and Covenant shall be renewed in such manner as follows. First, There shall be intimation of a solemn public humiliation and Fast the second Sabbath of December, To be kept upon the next Thursday and Lords day thereafter, At which intimation the League and Covenant, and the public acknowledgement of sins and Engagement unto duties are to be publicly read by the Minister in the audience of all the people, And they are to be exhorted to get copies thereof, that they may be made acquainted therewith; And the Humiliation and Fast is to be kept the next Thursday thereafter, in reference to the breaches of the Covenant contained in the solemn public acknowledgement, as the causes thereof, And the next Lord's day thereafter, which is also to be spent in public Humiliation and fasting, immediately after the Sermon, which is to be applied to the business of that day, The public acknowledgement and Engagement is again to be publicly read, And thereafter prayer is to be made, containing the confession of the breaches mentioned therein, and begging mercy for these sins, and strength of God for renewing the Covenant in sincerity and Truth; After which Prayer, the solemn League and Covenant is to be read by the Minister, And then to be sworn by him and all the people, who are to engage themselves for performance of all the duties contained therein, Namely, these which are mentioned in the public acknowledgement and Engagement, and are opposite unto the sins therein confessed: And the action is to be closed with Prayer to God, that his people may be enabled in the power of his strength to do their duty, according to their Oath now renewed in so solemn a way. It is also hereby provided, that all those who renew the League and Covenant, shall again subscribe the same, And that none be admitted to the renewing or subscribing thereof, who are excluded by the other act and direction sent herewith.  
A. KER.   

Edinb. 6 October, Post meridiem. Act concerning the debarring of Persons accessory to the late unlawful Engagement in War, from renewing the Covenant, receiving the Communion, and from exercise of Ecclesiastic Office, with an advice to Presbyteries for celebration of the Communion.  
THE Commissioners of the General Assembly having found it necessary that the solemn League and Covenant be renewed after so great and evident breaches thereof by many in this Kingdom: And considering how manifestly the Cause of God hath been endangered heretofore by too sudden receiving unto the Covenant those who have been in actual opposition thereunto, before sufficient trial and evidence had of their repentance: Do therefore appoint and Ordain, That all Presbyteries and Ministers within this Church in their several bounds and respective charges take special care at the time of renewing the League and Covenant, That none who have had charge in the Army, which under the conduct of Duke Hamilton engaged in War against the Kingdom of England, or with the Forces that were in and about Stirling under the command of the Earl of Lanerk and George Monro, or have taken and subscribed any Oaths, Bands or Declarations for carrying on these sinful courses, or any other Oath or Band condemned by the General Assembly as destructive to the Covenant, Or have been forcers, urgers or seducers of others to join in the said Engagements and services so destructive to Religion, or have been active promoters thereof, be admitted to subscribe, or renew the Oath of the League and Covenant, or to exercise any office or power in any of the Judicatories of this Kirk.  
And further, considering that it is referred to us from the late General Assembly to give advertisement to the Presbyteries of a fit opportunity of celebrating the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and to send such advice as we should find necessary for the time; We have thought fit to advertise Presbyteries, That the Sacrament of the Lords Supper may be celebrated after the renewing of the Covenant as Ministers have conveniency in their several Congregations; And that we have found it necessary that all who are involved in the aforementioned guiltiness, be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper until the General Assembly shall take such course as they think fit, concerning the receiving of them unto the Covenant and Communion.  
A. Ker.   

Edinburgh, 14 October 1648.  
THE Committee of Estates being very sensible of the grievous backslidings of this Land in the manifold breaches of the Solemn League and Covenant, made and sworn to the most high GOD: Do therefore unanimously and hearty approve the seasonable and pious resolution of the Commission of the General Assembly; for a Solemn Acknowledgement of public Sins and Provocations, especially the breaches of the Covenant, and a Solemn Engagement to a more conscionable performance of the Duties therein contained, and for renewing the Solemn League and Covenant: And do require and Ordain, that the directions of the said Commission of Assembly in their Act of the sixth of this Month for a public Acknowledgement of Sins and Engagement to Duties be carefully followed, that the Fast and Humiliation appointed by them be Religiously observed, and that the Solemn League and Covenant be sincerely and cordially renewed and subscribed in the manner they have prescribed in their said Act. Extractum.  
Mr Tho: Henderson.  
FINIS.